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Lthe husking bee 




A DRAMATIC COMPOSITION 



IN ONE ACT 



By Evangeline Campbell 



WITH TKE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTERS, SYNOPSIS OF 
PIECE, RELATIVE POSITIONS, STAGE PICTURE, ETC. 



HAVERHILL, MASS. 

Franklin P. Stii.es, 
1910. 




Class 


. ?Sfc3 5 


Book_ 


• .-2.3 


Copvii^htN" C 1 8 5 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



,^p^ 



THE HUSKING BEE 



A DRAMATIC COMPOSITION 



IN ONE ACT 



By Evangeline Campbell 



WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTERS, SYNOPSIS OF 
PIECE, RELATIVE POSITIONS, STAGE PICTURE, ETC. 



HAVERHILL, MASS. 

Franklin P. Stiles, 
1910. 



?^\ X- 






CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

Ben Franklin Morrell, who owned the farm. 

Ann Eliza Morrell, Ben's devoted wife and the country doctor. 

Steven Dunn, who knew, the ten commandments. 

Sally Potts, the famous matchmaker. 

Seth Bumpus, "Set," the country fiddler. 

Little Emily Barker, "Emmie, the country tomboy. 

Judith Burrell, "Handsome Judy," Ben's favorite grand-daughter. 

Zedoc Haynes, a boy before a man. 

Scene — A country barn, Androscoggin County, Maine. Time 

Evening, 1868. 

Stage Directions — R. means Right of Stage, facing the Audience ; 
L. Left; C. Center; R. C. Right of Center; L. C. Left of Center ; D. 
Door ; C. D. Center Door ; U. C. Up Center ; D. C. L. Down Center 
Left ; D. C. R. Down Center Right. 



STAGE SETTING. 

Interior of Barn. Wall of barn running across the back of stage 
shows an oat scaffold L. C. six and one-h^lf feet high. Oats hanging 
over the sides and front of scaffold. Bay R. C. five and one-half feet 
high and full of hay. Hay mow R. of bay extending nearly to the 
caves and across the end of the barn. Ladder R. C. near hay mow, 
seven and one-half feet long, extending two feet above the running 
beam of bay. D. L. C. leading from the barn to the house. Three 
empty stalls (or one in use). Harness hanging on peg L. of stalls. 
Eight pegs on either side of C. D. Three L. C, five R. C. Lan 

2 



©CI.D 20710 TMP92-008792 



terns hanging on pegs either side of C. D, and on second peg L. C. 
. Harness hanging on third peg L. C. near the corner. Trace of corn 
hanging on second peg R. C. Lantern on third. Wraps on fourth. 
Corn to be husked on the floor in front of stalls. Four milking stools 
near corn. Substitute for table, boards on horses, horses two and one- 
half feet high, three and one-half long. An old chair near harness. 

COSTUMES. 

Benjamin Franklin Morrell — Dark trousers and coat, gray flan- 
nel shirt, narrow black string tie, red bandanna handkerchief, long 
legged boots. 

Ann Elizy Morrell — Redish brown calico dress, three cornered 
white handkerchief, large gold brooch, side combs, gray stockings, 
slippers without heels, gold hoops in ears. 

Steven Dunn — Medium dark gray suit, white shirt somewhat 
soiled, stand-up collar, green tie, long legged boots. 

Emily— Red and green plaid gingham dress, red flannel drawers 
drawn into elastic just below the knees, black woolen stockings, com- 
mon leather shoes. 

Seth Bumpus — Brown homespun suit, striped flannel shirt, black 
felt hat, knitted gray worsted gloves, silver watch and chain, red 
stockings, ordinary country shoes, leather shoe strings. 

Sally Potts — Brown plaid dress (very large plaid), white em- 
broidered collar, cameo brooch, long gold chain, gold watch, cloth 
shoes with elastic gussetts, red stockings, side combs, large hoop skirt. 

"Judy"— Plain white muslin dress, bright plaid sash, black stock- 
ings, good looking button boots, plaid ribbon tied on her hair. 

. Zedoc Haynes — Good looking black suit, white shirt, turn down 
collar, blue and gray striped satin tie, derby hat, brown kid gloves. 

PROPERTIES. 

Fiddle for Seth and an old chair. Eleven eggs for Emmie and 
some twine string. Large pewter pitcher, cider, apples, cornballs, 
doughnuts, cheese, glasses, four plates, trace of corn, bushel basket 
and corn (with husks on) enough to fill basket. Four milking stools 
a goad with brad in end, ladder, four lanterns. 

time in representation — twenty minutes. 
8 



DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS. 

Ben Franklin Morrell, of robust form, tall, and a distin- 
guished rural type, firm temper, but a just man. 

Ann Elizy Morrell, short and somewhat stout, kind and moth- 
erly. 

Steven Dunn, rather inferior looking, bald head, with a fringe 
of red hair, smooth face. Always had his chew of tobacco between 
the lower jaw and cheek ready for use. A litde penurious and in- 
quisitive. 

Sally Potts, tall and very thin, long upper lip and slight mous- 
tache, curls that reach to her W3,ist and large hoop skirt. 

"Little Emmie," an ordinary looking country girl about ten years 
of age, exceedingly full of pranks. 

Beth Bumpus, middle age, medium build, an average country type, 
eccentric and afraid of matrimony. 

Judy Burrell, a striking brunette, medium height, rather slight, 
with a restful, refreshing sweetness of manner. 

Zedoc Haynes, a strong, wholesome type, honest face and con- 
vmcing manner. 

SYNOPSIS OF PIECE. 

Ben Franklin Morrell and Steven Dunn are rival farmers; 
good friends, but somewhat antagonistic. Steve knows the ten com- 
mandments as well as anyone, but regardless of what is forbidden in 
the eighth, doesn't keep his cows out of Ben's corn. Ann Elizy, 
through the goodness of her heart, always has a remedy for the sick. 
"Little Emmie," Ben's granddaughter and a typical tomboy, climbs 
to the oat scaffold to enjoy the dancing, and although told by her 
grandfather "not to come down until she is wanted," gets excited 
when he shouts "fiddle 'r up, Set," and comes down head first into 
Ben's arms, and disarranges Sally Pott's wonderful curls. Ben 
shakes her out as one would a rag doll, and sets her on the table 
near the country spread, and she keeps him watching out. Sally is 
a spinster who likes to see lovers wed, regardless of what other peo- 
ple think. "Handsome Judy" innocently meets her lover after a 
separation of two years. Notwithstanding the fact that Ben is dis- 
pleased, he will not "let a boy of twenty-two be a bigger man than 
himself at seventy," and unites the lovers. 

4 



THE HUSKING BEE 



Ben. [^Arranging the corn. Enter Ann Elizy, c. d., with plate 
of apples and plate of doughnuts, and puts them on table.^ It's goin' 
ter rain, Ann Elizy, shure's guns. 

Ann Elizy. You're er good weather prophet, Ben, but you miss 
it now'n then. 

Ben. \_Enter Steven small door l.] Is't rainin' Steve?" 

Steve. [^Approaching Ben.] Not yit. It looks kinder threatin. 
It looks showery off o'er Brown's Hill. Spose you've been er cookin' 
all day, Ann Elizy. 

Ann Edzy. {Turns to look at Steve, rests hand on right hip.'] 
Laws no. I cooked most everything yisterdy. I'm like the old 
woman who'd rather be ready 'n not go than go 'n not be ready. 
Where's Nancy ; ain't she comin' ? 

Steve. Nancy's kinder used up with the teeth ache ter night. 

Ann Elizy. Tell 'er to fill up the holes with ground cloves, 
and hold some rum in 'er mouth. {Turns to Ben.] We won't hev 
much huskin' done ter night, I'm thinkin', Ben. 

Ben. {Standing up.] Well, .^nn Elizy, that vvouldn't happen if 
all the folks in the neighborhood come, for there ain't much corn 
ter husk. By the way, Steve, I drove yer infernal cows out er my 
corn three times ter day. I won't hev corn enuf left ter make the 
Thanksgivin' Johnny cake. {Exit Ann Elizy c. d ] 

Stevu:. Why don't ye sell that field ter me? 

Bkn. What'n thunder's the use er buyin' it when yer gettin' 
all the corn an' grass fer nuthin'. Steve, do ye know what's forbid- 
den in the eighth commandment? 

Steve. [ Wincing a little.'] Yes, Ben, I know the ten com- 
mandments as well as anybody. {Hesitatingly 7] The eighth com- 
mandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our 
own or our neigh'tors' wealth, or outward estate. 

Bkn. [ With a shrug of his shoulders and a little chuckle.] You 
believe in knowin' um, if ye don't believe in livin' up to um, hey. 
{Enter Sally and Seth, small door L., advance to c, Sally and Bbn 
shake hands, Steven and Seth.] How'd do, Sally. How'd do, Seth. 
Well, which one un ye brought the other ? {Enter Ann Elizy, c. d., 
looks surprised.] 



Ann Elizy. Well, well, this looks s'picious like, peers ter me. 

Seth. \_Latighing; shakes his head, good naturediy.~\ Never kin 
tell, Ann Elizy. 

Ann Elizy. \_Sany begins to retnove her wraps.~\ Hang yer 
things on yonder peg. Lay yer fiddle down here, "Set," \_pointing 
to end of table at her right. Sally hangs her wraps oti peg r. of 
ladder, comes to table and looks at doughnuts and smells of one.~\ An 
seein' you'n Sally's extry friendly ter night, I'll hang yer hat on 
Sally's peg. \_Nods at Seth with a knowing wink."] P'raps ye'll go 
her way ter night. Why ! [ With look of sympathy. '\ Have ye gut 
er stiff neck? \^Moving his head carefully r\^ 

Seth. No ; I've got er durnation sore bile on the back uv it, 
an don't know's I ken fiddle much. 

Ben. \_Listenijig to the thunder, distant and rumbling.'] I'm 
thinkin' there won't be much fiddlin' ter do. 

Sally. \_Looking somewhat disgusted at corn.] Where's yer 
corn, Ben; gut more'n that, aint ye? We kin husk that before the 
evenin' begins. 

Emmie. \_Enter c. d., goes to Ben, half afraid and almost cry- 
ing, looks up into his face and takes hold of his hand.] Grandpa, 
can I sit up and see you dance if I'll be good? 

Ben. \_Leaning over and speaking rather sternly.] If yer want 
ter set up \jnotioning to oat scaffold'] git right up on the oat scaffle. 
Keep yer eyes open, yer mouth shut, and don't come down \_shaking 
his finger in her face] til yer wanted. 

Emmie. \_Looking at scaffold, then at Ben.] All right, grandpa. 
\Goes up the ladder, 7valks on cross beam of bay and climbs to 
ihe scaffold ; sits down near the edge.] 

Seth. [_fokinglv.] See you've gut er chew in, Steve ; gut an 
extry one? 

Steve. [.Feeling of both trousers pockets.] Aint gut er crumb, 
"Set." 

Ann Elizy. Steve always has his cud in, "Set." 

Steve. They say er good cow never loses er cud, Ann Elizy. 

Ben. \_Having private conversatioji with Sally; looks at Seth.] 
Steve carries his tobaccer where the neighbors can't borry. 

Steve. Zed's goin' ter drop round er little later. Wish Judy 
was here. 

Ben. [Gets a little restless.] Hold on, Steve; don't go too fur. 
You know how I've felt about Zed and Judy for a long time. [Sally, 
Ann Elizy and Seth gossiping in whispers d. c. l. Emmie lays face 
down on the scaffold and listens.] 

Steven. [Hands in trousers pockets, jvalks a little u. c. nearer 
Ben, and talks earnestly.] Zed's all right now, Ben ; straight's er 

G 



string an smart at his business. Why, he's goin' to work fur the 
government soon. He couldn't do that if he wasn't all right every 
way. [Growing more convincing and tapping his left palm with his 
right first finger^ His father come out all right; couldn't do much 
better'n leavin' off his bad habits an' joinin' the church'n preachin'. 
An' he was er [slapping his left palm violently with his right hand'] 
good preacher, too. [Plodding his head to confinn his statement.'] 
Zed's lookin' fine ; he's grown powerful good lookin' since you've 
seen him. 

Ben. [Calm, but firm; clasps his hands behind him and looks 
steadily at Steve.'] It's not only 'cause his father drinked ; you know's 
well's I that Judy's father killed her mother, jist through drink, and 
I've sworn never ter see Judy marry any man that ever used liquor. 
{Turns and walks d. c. Sally ineets him, Stkve joins Ann Elizv 
and Seth.] 

Sally. [Innocently.] Wouldn't ye jist like to see Judy pop in 
here ? 

Ben. [Somewhat irritated.] No, Sally, I wouldn't under the 
circumstances ; 'twould only stir things up agin. 

Ann Elizy. [£xit c. d., calls from beyond^ Ben, will you'n 
Steve come in the house er minute ? [Exit Steve and Ben, c. d.] 

Sally. Turnifig to Seth as he takes his fiddle out of an old green 
bag.] It's rainin' now ; looks like you'd have ter stay all night. [Em- 
mie crawls on hands and knees to back of scaffold and hunts for eggs 
and finds a nest with eleven in it; puts them in her dress skirt, stands 
up and walks back ?iear the edge, and sits down counting the eggs 
over and over, and sfnilitig; puts them down on the oats and watches 
for some one to take them.] I guess yer glad ye ain't married ter- 
night. 

Seth. [Sits down on chair, begins to tune his fiddle softly.] Ter- 
night? I'm glad every night. 
Sally places a milking stool near Seth and sits down, clasps her 

hands fust below her knees and looks into his face. 

Sally. It seems queer ter me, '-Set," that you've never gut mar- 
ried going round all over creation. You must uv loved somebody some 
time. [Entef Super c. D., with large pewter pitcher full of cider, puts 
it on table, turns io go. Emmie attracts his attention, and he holds 
his cap to get the eggs. He is evidently a farm hand; he can't quite 
reach. Emmie thinks quickly, takes off her right shoe and stocking, 
mis the stockifig with the eggs and lowers it down. Exit c. d.] 

Seth. [Somewhat sadly.] I loved jist one outside uv my own 
family, Sally. I buried the best friend I had when I buried her. [Ben 
and Steve about to enter, but wait and listen in alley.] She was 
faithful ter me all the days uv her life, and there'l never be another 
ter take 'er place. [Steve looks wise, whispers attd nods his head to 
Ben.] 

7 



Sally. {^Growing interested.'] There's er lot er good ones left. 

Seth. VVell, that may be, but there'll never be another that will 
think so much of me. [Steve looks sad and shakes his head sytnpathet- 
ically.'] She used ter come and kiss me and wake me up every 
mornin'. 

Sally. Oh, she lived with you ? 

Seth. iStili tuning his fiddle.] She lived with me til she died, 
and I buried her in my own lot at the foot of what'l be my grave. 

Sally. {Sorrowfully.'] Do you mind tellin' me her name ? 

Seth. Lucindy; 'Cindy for short. 

Sally. Lucindy who? 

Seth. Bumpus. 

Sally \jnuch relieved.] Oh, I see, er relative. 

Seth. VVell, if she wus, it must ev been a good many generations 
back ; but we wus er like in er good many ways. She liked ter walk 
with me, an hunt, an I couldn't fiddle ernuf ter suit er. 

Sally. What did she die uv? 

Seth. Old age. She was toothless, deef and almost blind, but 
I loved er just the same. 

Sally. How old was she, Set ? 

Seth. Seventeen. 

Sally. {.Showing great surprise.] Seventeen ! What do you mean? 

Seth. That's purty old for er dog, Sally. [Ben slaps Steve on the 
shoulder.'] 

Sally. {Somewhat disgusted.] A dog ! 

Seth. Yes, er dog: don't ye spose '*Rip Vaa Winkle" loved 
his dog "Snyder?" 

Bkn. {Enter Bt.N and Steve with coi-nballs and cheese and puts 
them on table.] Tune 'er up, "Set," an we'l begin ter husk, an have 
er good old fashioned sing. {Enter Ann Elizy with glasses for cider, 
puts them on table, goes over to Ben.] 

Se'ih. Whai'l ye have, Ben? 

Ben. [.-4// four sitting on the milking stool by the corn.] Sposen 
ye give us the "Reaping Song." [Seth quickly tunes his violin and 
all four sing while husking. Em.mie makes a zvreath of oats to wear 
on her head.] 

"The autumn winds are sighing, sighing in the trees ; 
The ripened corn is waving, waving in the breeze ; 
The harvest moon is shining, shining in the night, 
Over hill and valley, in floods of silver light." 
Exit Ann Elizv, c. d., others continue to husk, returns in a few seconds 

with poultice in her hand for Seth. 

Seth. Now, what yer got there ? 



Ann Elizy. \_Binding poultiee around Seth's neck.^ A muUin leaf 
poultisj it'l take the soreness out right er way. [Sxii Sally, 
c. D.] Don't say er word, Set, but I'm lookin' fer er fuss here er little 
later. Sally went 'n gut Judy [Emmie c/aps her hands] this mornin'. 
She'll see Zed 'n that'l upset Ben. 

Seth. Never mind, Ann Elizy. "All's well that ends well." That 
feels better ; much erbliged. You're always doin' somethin' for 
somebody. 

Ben. {Going to the table.'] Come on, "Set," now you're all fixed 
up, an hev some cider'n doughnuts, an some uv Ann EHzy's gymna- 
sium cheese, 'n there's a heap er performers in it, too. 

Ann Elizy. [.Indignantly.'] There ain't any skippers 'n that 
cheese, Ben. 

Ben. [All go to the table and take a doughnut and some cheese 
each, and sit on the milking stools.] After we fill up we'l hev "Money 
Musk," an dance er little. Spose Sally's jist as light on her feet as 
ever. [.Enter Sally, c. d., helps herself to doughnuts und cheese, sits 
on stool between Seth and Ann Elizy.] But you'n I are gettin' er 
little stiff, Steve, I reckon. We'll be like Ike Crockett's horse. They 
say he knew more'n Ike. He knew ernuf ter go ter bed'n Ike didn't. 
The horse was so stiff in his knees he couldn't lay down, so he 
leaned up agin the stall and slid down sideways. [Enter Judy on 
tiptoe, c. D. Ben sits back to the door; she puts her hand over his 
eyes. He feels of her hand carefully.] Oh, it's you, JucJy. [Sally 
shakes her hands gleefully.] Ye can't fool me ; no litde hands but 
yourn could blind me. [Ben rises.] Where'n the world did you 
come from? 

Judy [clasps her arms about his neck and kisses him fondly two 
or three times.] I come with Sally. She went over to school and 
brought me home just to give you a great big surprise. 

Ben. [Displeased.] Don't you believe any such nonsense. She's 
gut another 'great big surprise on her mind ternight. 

Judy. [Looking disappointed.] Ain't you glad to see me, grandpa ? 

Ben. {^Clasping her in his arms ^ Yes, Judy ; yer old grandpa 
hopes the day will never come in this world when he won't be glad 
ter see ye. [Turning to Sally, who is ivhispering to Steve.] Sally, 
you may think you've done er big thing gittin Judy here ternight. I 
might er known ye'd do this. 

Sally. [Triumpha7itly.] Ben, you're born, but ye ain't buried yit. 

Ben. No, "I may have been nearer death than I am ternight, 
but death has never been so near to me." 

Steven. {Triumphantly^ Ben, the tenth commandment requir- 
eth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and char- 
itable frame of spirit toward our neighbor and all that is his." 



Zeedoc enters swall doo?' l. and stops l c, with right hand extended, 

hat in left ha?id. All greet him, Judy first.'] 

Zedoc. Judy, Uncle Ben ; hello old friends one and all. 

Sally. Guess ye won't find many old friends hut's powerful glad 
ter see ye. 

Ann Elizy. [^Holditig his right haiid, puts her left hand on his 
right shoulder. 1 I guess it seems like old times to git back. \^He con- 
tmues to hold her hand and looks fondly into her face.'] 

Zedoc. Yes, Aunt Elizy ; it brings to my mind these lines from 
"The Land of Evangeline," 

"Along my father's dikes I roam again, 
Among the willows by the river side ; 
These miles of green I know from hill to tide, 
And every creek and river's ruddy stain." 
[^Lets go of x'\nn Elizy's hand and turns to Judy.] And little Judy ; 
she hasn't changed in two long years. [Seth sits down ifi chair near 
harness.'] 

Seth. Choose partners for "Money Musk." {^Tunes his fiddle 
while set is being for?ned.] 

Zedoc. Uncle Ben, may I dance with Judy? 

Ben. \_Rather annoyed.] Why, Zed, I can't very well say no. 
[Steve and Ann Elizy move the table further back; Zedoc hastens to 

assist. Emmie motions to him to give her a cornball, and he takes 

the goad and sticks the brad into one and passes it up to her.] 

Zedoc. Uncle Ben, I am sorry to displease you tonight. If I 
had known Judy was going to be here, upon my word I would not 
have come. [Ben and Sally take positions for third couple, Steve 
and Ann Elizy second, Zedoc and Judy first couple, standing about 
c, profile to the audience.] 

Seth. "Honor to the ladies!" "First couple join hands and 
swing !" "Pass below !" "Forward six !'' "Three c[uarters round 
your partners swing !" "Across the set !" 

Ben. Steve's squint-eyed in both eyes ternight. 

"Forward six !" 

Ben. Fiddle er up, "Set." 

"Swing to place !" Emmie gets excited and crazvls too near to 
the edge of the scaffold, and falls into Ben's arms.] 

Ben. Here, here, I told ye not to come down til ye was want- 
ed. iSets her on the edge of the table.] Now sit there. [Hurries 
back.] 

"Right and left !" [Ben wipes his face with his red bandanna; 
Sally and Ann Elizy get a drink of cider and sit on the stools to 
rest. Seth gets a drink of cider and a corn ball, passes them to Sally 
Ann and Elizy. puts dish back on table and sits down in his chair.] 

10 



Steve. {^Aside, after drinking some cider.'] Sally is jist as light 
as ever. 

Ben. Yes ; Sally always was er good dancer. She's gut small 
ankles, and that's ginerally er sign. [Zedoc and Judy talking con- 
fidentially. ~\ 

Steve. Yes, Ben, they are small ; and I should jedge they reached 
pretty nigh up ter her knees. [Ben and Steve drink some cider. 
Emmie puts a doughnut in a glass of cider, Ben takes if quickly out 
of her hand and puts it in his mo7ith whole.'] 

Zedoc. I must speak to Uncle Ben tonight, Judy; he may feel 
differently about me now. He must know we love each other better 
as we older grow, and his heart is big and full of sympathy. [Ben 
hesitates and lets them talk, but turns away with a deep sigh.] 

Judy. Grandpa will never give his consent, and I couldn't break 
his heart. 

Zedoc. No, Judy, not that ; but I must have one ray of hope 
to satisfy my heart's hunger. May I speak ? 

Judy. I Yes, Zed ; but don't say anything to make him unhappy. 
He brought me here when I was a child and alone, and loved me. 
Now he is getting old and childish ; help me to return the love and 
care he has given me. 

Zedoc. [With great assurance.] I swear it, Judy. \_Turning to 
Ben.] Uncle Ben, I want to speak with you. 

Ben. [ With great decision.] I've been expecting it, Zed, but 
it's no use. I promised Judy's mother on her death bed that I would 
never consent to her marrying a man that ever used liquor. You 
know rom caused her mother's death, an ter this day I've never gut 
over it. \^He shows Ben his bank book] 

Zedoc. Here is my bank book. Uncle Ben, and you will see 
that I haven't squandered much on drink. I've been saving it to 
give Judy a little home some day, and I've earned it honest. I know 
I was foolish for a time, and it looks so to me now, but aren't we 
all boys before we are men? 

Ben. Zed, I b'leve you're honest and I know ye love Judy, [Em- 
mie goes to sleep on the table] but I can't give er to ye, Zed. I can't 
part with her now, she's jist like my own. She's all the sunshine 
there is in the home her&, and if I'm wrong I'll soon find it out. 
[Judy puts her arm around Ben's waist, he puts his arm about her 
shoulders. Ann Elizy spreads Sally's shawl over Emmie.] 

Zedoc. Uncle Ben, I have always loved you {^Looking Ben full 
in the face] and I have tried for her sake, and because we both love 
her, to outgrow my boyhood ways and come back to you a man. I 
won't ask you to give her to me until you think me man enough to 
be worthy of her and of your consent ; but, sometimes. Uncle Ben, a 
promise is better broken than kept. I'll go back to Washington and 

11 



fight for the best that's in me, but when she brings sunshine into 
your home think of me as having no home, no sunshine, and hun- 
gering for it just as you would. 

Judy. \_Raising her tear-stained face to her grandpa' s r^ Grand- 
pa, dear grandpa, I'm going to stay with you and grandma ; but I 
want to repeat to you what you taught me when I came here to 
Hve, the "Means to preserve mercies." First, be thankful for them ; 
second, receive them as mercies, not as dues ; third, ^getting tiearer 
to his face'] prepare to part with them ; the fourth I forget. \_Kisses 
him lovingly and caresses his face. Zedoc goes to the table and gets 
his hat; kisses Emmie, shakes hands with Sally, Ann Elizy and Sei'h, 
all standing as he app}-oaches theni.~\ 

Zedoc. Good bye, Uncle Ben ; we both believe in a God of 
justice, and I can wait a little longer — yes, forever — for her. Good 
bye, Judy, if no one else trusts me you do, and in that trust I'll 
place my faith. \_Holding her hand.^ Good bye, my friends, and to 
the country I love so well \_raising his eyes toward Heaven^ God's 
blessing. [Lets her hand drop from his and starts to go.'] 

Ben. Zed, come back. "A French general surrenders never," 
but er sensible Yankee knows when he's whipped.* Do you spose 
I'l let er boy, twenty-two, be er bigger man than I at seventy. Take 
er, and remember we both believe in er God of justice.** Judy, the 
fourth "Means to preserve mercies," reads like this, "Expect the con- 
tinuance of mercies" from God.*** 

Sally. \_In a 7>ery triumphant voice.] Zed's caught the bird 
an Steve's happy, anyway, Ben. [Steve dances a little jig.] 

Ben. Yes, Sally, that's Steve's funeral jig ; but he never dances 
it when its his funeral.**** 

*The stars denote first, second, third and fourth climaxes. 



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